It’s day three of the wacky ho-down that is my family’s semi-annual family reunion, and soon I’ll head down for the formal banquet. Earlier today we had the “house of cousins” meeting (because for a family this large, you have to have your own representative governing bodies) which ended with a rather in-depth discussion of the making of leftse (it’s a Norwegian thing) which has inspired me to take up my family’s ethnic cooking when I get home.
I’ve walked on the beach, explored the local shops (and thank you, Scomerican Girl, the cheese popcorn really was as good as advertised), played 36 holes of golf (damn does my back ache), and I’ve talked for hours with people I used to see daily but now only see once every couple of years, at best.
So, I thought I’d share a certain revelation I’ve had in the last couple of days or so. If you don’t watch “The Big Bang Theory” on television, this whole post is gonna be kinda meaningless…so…sorry about that.
Anyway, I realized that no matter how much I might want to be Leonard, I’m actually Sheldon.
Unfortunately, I’m serious. In this, the trial of public perception, I (serving as both the prosecution AND the defense) would like to present to following evidence:
Exhibit A) My Comment on When is this lady gonna stop writing about her kid?
Notice how the conversation actually had NOTHING to do with quarks or leptons? Yep…my inner geek/nerd overrides all things.
Exhibit B) My Comment on I got married to the widow next door…
Yeah, my collegiate focus was actually on History and Literature (I was an Anthropology/Archaeology major who wanted a minor in classical lit)…and Art (at one point I was a declared Fine Art major who took all the art history classes). I do have 48 credits in upper-level computer classes…but that was stuff I did for fun. I also took two 300 series physics classes “for fun” so that should explain a LOT about what was wrong with my past definition of fun.
Exhibit C) My Comment on …but next time, WITH COSTUMES!
This is the place where I admit to owning action figures and explain some background to the correlation of the visual design of Storm Trooper armor to Boba Fett’s Mandalorian armor.
Yes, I have camped out to buy tickets to a Star Wars movie. More than once.
Yes, I have quoted a Star Wars movie in a professional setting. More than once.
Yes, I have corrected someone else’s example-by-metaphor because they misstated a basic function of physics (the earth’s rotation does NOT create gravity, and please DON’T claim that it does in a room full of professionals…because I will call you on it, and that won’t help your presentation AT ALL). Sadly, also more than once. For the same person.
I now suspect that I am actually insufferably annoying. I suspect that I am Sheldon and I just didn’t see it before now. I always assume that if someone is saying something inaccurate, then they would WANT to know that what they were saying was, in fact, wrong.
After a few episodes of TBBT I now suspect that it might be ever so slightly possible that they, in fact, do NOT want to be corrected.
When I watch TBBT I always see myself in Leonard’s shoes. Geeky, intelligent, perhaps a bit overzealous in some area’s, but all-in-all a good guy who just needs some polishing.
I’m now listening to stories about myself from ten years ago or more…and I’m not hearing Leonard…I’m hearing Sheldon. Blunt, abrupt, unapologetically smarter than other people, and without the social grace to just shut up and smile smugly while nodding my head. This makes me sad, and a bit embarrassed.
Suddenly, I’m afraid I’m “that guy” or at least that I’ve been “that guy” for long stretches in the past.
If there’s any bright side to all of this…a sort of silver lining perhaps…it’s that several times this weekend I’ve been told how much mellower and more personable I am compared to times past.
So maybe, just maybe, I have some hope of being Leonard after all…
Lara | 02-Aug-08 at 7:54 pm | Permalink
well, as a character, sheldon’s way more interesting anyway… :)
Yes, but Bluto was the most interesting character in Animal House…and that’s not exactly what I aspire to either…
Scomerican Girl | 02-Aug-08 at 7:56 pm | Permalink
I think my fingers were stained orange for several days and it was TOTALLY worth it. Did you find the art shop too? I confess to a love for Bev Doolitle, apologies ahead of time!
Yep, art shop was still there. They actually had some interesting pieces by local artists. VERY worth the stop.
Being Sheldon isn’t all that bad. Plus, don’t you think by recognizing that you might have Sheldon tendencies, it pushes you over into Leonard territory? I don’t think Sheldon is particularly self-aware so you have that in your favor!
Self-Awareness as the key to Leonard-ness…interesting theory…
Your next challenge is to find the best salt water taffy in Seaside. There are many stores, so choose wisely…
Portland Fudge Company, just down the way from the Shilo Inn and the Diner where I ate Steamer Clams at 10:30 pm.
Allison | 03-Aug-08 at 10:11 am | Permalink
I have not actually seen that show, but you’re the second person to recommend it (at least, it kind of seems that way) so I should probably give it at try.
I whole-heartedly recommend the show…but then, I suspect it’s at least semi-biographical.
I can relate though to the urge to give a physics correction…except that I do it with grammar…in my head, that is (think: irregardless, where is the dog at?, she done seen that). That being said, I’m not above grammatical errors in my posts or comments.
I’m a grammar Nazi. And, I am my own worst offender.
Anyway, sometimes I find I correct myself when I talk about the sun setting. I say to myself, “I don’t think the sun actually ‘sets’…I think it’s just the earth’s rotation making it appear that way.” Yes, I have ridiculous conversations with myself. I learned just enough in my astronomy class to be dangerous…to myself.
Is it more ridiculous to have that conversation with yourself, or to have it when you correct others?
essaytch | 03-Aug-08 at 11:59 am | Permalink
Ah, it’s ok. As long as you’re self-aware, you’re good.
I think you two make a quorum, so motion passed.
Besides, when the rest of the world catches on and realizes that “horribly geeky” is the new “damn sexy”, then you’ll be a hot commodity. Trust me.
I’m stuck waiting for the world to catch on? I’m screwed.
Taoist Biker | 04-Aug-08 at 6:11 am | Permalink
Never seen TBBT, personally, but I have a mound o’ history, physics, and astronomy credits on my transcript. I think I ended up two classes shy of an astro minor, actually. And I took the famous (at UVA) “How Things Work” physics class from Lou Bloomfield, the guy that now co-hosts the Discovery show “Some Assembly Required.”
DUDE!!! Bloomfield is awesome!
Hell, I even took a class (with my girlfriend even) on the history of physics from Galileo to Einstein. Ah, geeked-up memories.
That class sounds like a blast…in fact…I think I have the textbook on my bookshelf.
Hollihawk | 05-Aug-08 at 7:21 am | Permalink
This is the “wise” half of the “getting older and wiser” equation (Like my use of the word “equasion”? How about all the quotes? =D ), a new self-awareness. I had one too, but mine was closer to 40.
If I’d have waited another five years, someone would have killed me. Probably with the stick that was wedged firmly up my ass.
Enjoy it. This is what you get. This and lower insurance rates.
Really? Guess I need to call that annoying little Gecko again.
Party on, brother.
SCHWING!!!
pamajama | 05-Aug-08 at 7:48 am | Permalink
It’s really weird when you read about someone going to a family reunion in Oregon & then watch the news & hear about a plane crashing into the house of someone “having a family reunion in Oregon.”
Hope this is all a bizarre coincidence.
The Bizarre coincidence was the fact that my family golf tournament was in the SAME TOWN where the plane crashed. Though it wasn’t anyone even proximally related to my family, my heart goes out to the victims and their family.